By John Essien
Nigerian and Feyenoord striker Cyriel Dessers has won the golden boot award in the inaugural UEFA Europa Conference League after netting 10 goals in the competition.
Dessers played all 90 minutes but could not find the back of the net for his Dutch club as Feyenoord lost 1-0 to Jose Mourinho’s AS Roma on Wednesday.
The historic first-ever UECL final was decided by Nikolo Zaniolo’s first-half goal on a night Mourinho became the first-ever coach to win all UEFA club competition trophies.
In the fifth European final of Mourinho’s career he extended his perfect record and in doing so became the first manager to win continental titles with four different clubs.
Feyenoord, who last won the UEFA Cup in 2002, dominated the early possession but failed to create any meaningful chances.
And they were punished in the 32nd minute when Zaniolo brought down the ball down in the box and finished from close range to put the Serie A side in front and that was enough to seal the club’s first European trophy since 1961.
It was a heartbreaking moment for the Nigerian international who have come up trump for his club this season. Despite boasting an individual record, Dessers is entitled to feel aggrieved after hopes of wrapping up such a fine season with a trophy fizzled out.
